November 2012: OCHA's Director of Operations, John Ging, visited the southern city of Kandahar during a three-day mission to Afghanistan. Credit: OCHA/Stephanie Julmy

Mr Ging visited the regional hospital in Kandahar and spoke to mothers of severely malnourished children receiving therapeutic feeding with the support of UNICEF and WHO. Credit: OCHA/Stephanie Julmy

A mother and baby at Kandahar hospital. An Afghan woman dies every two hours on average due to pregnancy and childbirth-related causes. Credit: OCHA/Stephanie Julmy

As the first snows start, the Afghan Government is preparing to support 240,000 people through the winter with healthcare, food, shelter and household items. There was an international outcry when dozens of children died from the cold in camps last winter. Credit: OCHA/Stephanie Julmy

A mother with her sick child in Kandahar hospital. An average of 165 children under the age of five die every day in Afghanistan. Credit: OCHA/Stephanie Julmy

In meetings with the Afghan Vice President and Government ministers, Mr Ging heard about reforms and new humanitarian programmes. "It is clear that the government is making progress but given the scale of the challenge, international funding support will be key to success," said Mr Ging. Credit: OCHA/Stephanie Julmy